First Russian shadow fleet vessel enters Channel since Smyrtos boarding

The Russian-flagged vessel Forwarder entered the English Channel on Wednesday evening, marking the first instance of a ship associated with Russia's "shadow fleet" entering the waterway since the boarding of the Smyrtos tanker. Forwarder departed from the Russian port of Primorsk last week. The "shadow fleet" refers to a group of oil tankers that have been used to transport Russian oil following Western sanctions, often operating with opaque ownership and insurance arrangements. The presence of such vessels in major shipping lanes like the Channel raises concerns regarding maritime safety and compliance with international regulations. This development follows increased scrutiny of Russian-flagged vessels and their cargo operations in European waters.